From a CBC media release:
If Laughter is the Best Medicine, Then CBC Television’s Comedy Lineup is the Cure Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 3
Comedy is back with a bang on CBC Television, beginning Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. Audience-favourites THE RICK MERCER REPORT, THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES and ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FARCE return for a hilarious new season, while JUST FOR LAUGHS inhabits Sunday nights, readying viewers for the work week ahead with lots of laughs.
THE RICK MERCER REPORT debuts Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. in HD with more unpredictable antics from Canada’s top political satirist. There’s nothing Mercer won’t do to get a good story. Last season, Mercer followed the candidates on the campaign trail, rode a bull with Jann Arden, submerged himself in sub-zero ice water, put his arm into a cow’s stomach, and held his breath on a death-defying luge ride. Who knows what he’ll be up to in Season Four? One thing is certain. He’ll be on the road each week, from the far North to Parliament Hill, showing viewers what’s strange, controversial and, especially, funny. Mercer will provide witty and incisive reports on the Canadian political scene, take aim at the week’s headlines and newsmakers, and continue to send-up popular advertising campaigns. And of course, no Mercer Report would be complete without one of his signature rants.
Returning for its 14th season, Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 8:30 p.m., the award-winning hit comedy series THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES skewers media manipulation, political wind-baggery, and the public relations balderdash that Canadians have come to know and endure in their daily lives. Armed with satire, ambush, sketch comedy and parody, 22 Minutes happily wades into the fray of world events. THIS HOUR HAS 22 MINUTES stars the real official Opposition, Cathy Jones, Mark Critch, Shaun Majumder and Gavin Crawford.
With new features, ROYAL CANADIAN AIR FARCE continues to be “must-watch†comedy for over a million Canadians, premiering Friday, Oct. 6 at 8 p.m., in HD. Hitting the week’s headlines with a new mix of characters, quirky “farce filmsâ€, goofy animations and special effects; Air Farce delivers a tight half-hour of current comment, political potshots, and lifestyle observations. The Farce stars Roger Abbott, Don Ferguson, Luba Goy, Jessica Holmes, Craig Lauzon and Alan Park.
JUST FOR LAUGHS is taped at Montreal’s renowned international comedy festival, the world’s largest and most prestigious all-comedy event. The Gemini Award-winning series showcases the best comedians from Canada and around the world. This season, the series moves to Sunday nights, beginning Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. The season kicks off with Monty Python founding member John Cleese hosting an evening of great standup that includes Irish sensation Tommy Tiernan, Greek Montrealer Angelo Tsarouchas, Corey Kahaney, Australian comic Tim Minchin, and hometown favourite Joey Elias. This season, Gala hosts include The Late Late Show’s Craig Ferguson, Seinfeld alumnus Jason Alexander, and Irish comedian extraordinaire Ed Byrne. Other comedians include Drew Carey, Jimmy Carr and Women Fully Clothed.
